as in increased
being at a higher level than average
for a time there was an escalated interest in the historical figure following the release of the blockbuster biography
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in rose
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
as the war between the two countries escalated, it threatened to become a global conflict
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in accelerated
to make greater in size, amount, or number
the president promised to escalate the government's program to combat the dreaded disease
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of escalated
Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026
At the same time, Washington has escalated an aggressive pressure campaign by restricting fuel shipments, warning off foreign suppliers and creating what amounts to a de facto oil blockade that has choked off imports.
—Isabel Rosales, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026
Hull claimed there was an argument over money that escalated into violence.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 21 Mar. 2026
At great personal risk, Hadi connected me with dissidents, political prisoners, and their relatives, who all described their plights as the regime’s repressive campaign escalated in the weeks leading up to the war.
—Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
The altercation escalated to a physical fight, where the suspect shot the victim, striking him once.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Oil prices had a roller-coaster day yesterday with Brent crude, the international standard, briefly surging to around $119 per barrel as attacks by Iran on oil and gas facilities around the Gulf escalated after Israel’s attack on Iran’s key natural gas field.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
Oil prices had a roller-coaster day on Thursday with the Brent crude, the international standard, briefly surging to around $119 per barrel as attacks by Iran on oil and gas facilities around the Gulf escalated after Israel's attack of Iran’s key natural gas field.
—ABC News, 20 Mar. 2026
The antics escalated throughout the fourth.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 14 Mar. 2026
Verb
Iran has escalated attacks on its Gulf neighbors since Israel bombed its massive South Pars offshore natural gas field, while keeping a stranglehold on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which a fifth of the world's oil and other critical goods are transported.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026
At the same time, Washington has escalated an aggressive pressure campaign by restricting fuel shipments, warning off foreign suppliers and creating what amounts to a de facto oil blockade that has choked off imports.
—Isabel Rosales, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026
Hull claimed there was an argument over money that escalated into violence.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 21 Mar. 2026
At great personal risk, Hadi connected me with dissidents, political prisoners, and their relatives, who all described their plights as the regime’s repressive campaign escalated in the weeks leading up to the war.
—Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
The altercation escalated to a physical fight, where the suspect shot the victim, striking him once.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Oil prices had a roller-coaster day yesterday with Brent crude, the international standard, briefly surging to around $119 per barrel as attacks by Iran on oil and gas facilities around the Gulf escalated after Israel’s attack on Iran’s key natural gas field.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
Oil prices had a roller-coaster day on Thursday with the Brent crude, the international standard, briefly surging to around $119 per barrel as attacks by Iran on oil and gas facilities around the Gulf escalated after Israel's attack of Iran’s key natural gas field.
—ABC News, 20 Mar. 2026
The antics escalated throughout the fourth.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 14 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escalated
Adjective
-
This move comes as the brand has faced increased competition from Anthropic’s Claude AI tools.—
James Peckham,
PC Magazine,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The higher the number, the more increased long-term risk of heart attack or stroke.—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Cleveland rose from mayor of Buffalo to governor of New York to the White House in a few years.—
Jacob Lane The Chicago Tribune,
Arkansas Online,
17 Mar. 2026
-
That death toll rose this past week.—
Rebecca Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Each time, the UAE absorbed the shock, adapted, and accelerated.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
17 Mar. 2026
-
BlockFills then began working with an existing investor on a plan to recapitalize the company, but that came crashing down in February as cryptocurrency valuation declines accelerated.—
Robert Channick,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Avoid tall, isolated trees or other elevated objects.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and elevated oil prices continue to weigh on global stock markets.—
TipRanks.com Staff,
CNBC,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Moisture swelled the film, allowing more oxygen to sneak through.—
J. Carson Meredith,
The Conversation,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The score from The Princess Bride swelled as Reiner’s onetime (or sometimes multiple-time) actors turned to face him and pay their final respects.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
It had been renamed and expanded in size roughly a year ago from a previously existing treatment facility as part of the Taliban government's efforts to stamp out a significant drug addiction problem in the country.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Pho Foodie, a Vietnamese restaurant that’s currently in Bowie, expanded to North Laurel with a March 1 soft opening, giving Route 1 a new carryout option.—
Marissa Yelenik,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Sunday is expected to be consistently hot, , with day temperatures reaching as high as 95 degrees, according to the weather service’s forecast.—
Suryatapa Chakraborty,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Instead, temperatures have been so warm that precipitation has fallen as rain, rather than snow, even at higher elevations.—
Mira Rojanasakul,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The new album’s first-week sales were boosted by its availability across 24 CD variants and five vinyl variants (all containing collectible items such as photocards, stickers and posters, with some items randomized).—
Keith Caulfield,
Billboard,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Davidson, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, boosted her offensive output to score nine points in the second quarter after being held to two in the first.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Escalated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escalated. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
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